Welcome to our March 2025 newsletter.
This month we feature: offerings on secular dharma by Stephen Batchelor, Lenore Lambert, and Dave Smith; Reflective Meditation podcasts on the recent US election; Ted Meissner's interview with Seth Zuiho Segal; upcoming reading groups sponsored by Tuwhiri, a secular Buddhist publishing imprint; and a petition to reverse the cuts to the US Agency for International Development.
Secular Dharma Offerings
Stephen Batchelor and Dave Smith recently engaged in a dialogue on the secular dharma and how that approach can alter, expand, or challenge our practice. Click here to read the article.
Lenorë Lambert is offering weekly emails in which she explores the Buddha's insights for human flourishing in our time. Click here to read the article.
Reflective Meditation Podcasts on the Election
Linda Modaro and other Reflective Meditation teachers have produced several podcasts that address the recent challenges of the US election.
Ted Meissner's The Secular Buddhist Podcast
Over fifteen years and 337 episodes, Ted Meissner's Secular Buddhist podcast provided those interested in the secular dharma with fascinating and insightful interviews with meditation teachers and writers. This month we feature Ted's interview with Seth Zuiho Segal on Seth's book, Buddhism and Human Flourishing: A Modern Western Perspective, originally aired on March 29, 2020.
Selected Articles from the SBA Website
Over the course of 10 years, the Secular Buddhist Association (SBA) published over 300 articles on their website. SBN is now featuring some of SBA's most important and influential articles.
Tuwhiri Reading Groups
Tuwhiri, the secular Buddhist publishing imprint, are offering two reading groups over the next few months:
A reading group for people in Europe and the Americas from March 9 to June 8 on Winton Higgins' book, Revamp: Writings on Secular Buddhism. Find out more.
A reading group on Sundays from April 27 to June 22 on Mike Slott's book, Mindful Solidarity: A Secular Buddhist Democratic Socialist Dialogue. Find out more.
Global Compassion Coalition: Reverse the US AID Freeze!
The Global Compassion Coalition is calling on the President of the United States to reverse the decision to cut U.S. aid to countries in need. This move puts millions at risk—causing hunger, disease, and economic collapse while shutting down education and rebuilding efforts. The worst is yet to come, but it’s not too late to stop it.
Click here to sign a petition to reverse the cuts to the US Agency for International Development (AID).
Connect with the Secular Buddhist Network
Looking for a sangha? - To facilitate the development of local sanghas, SBN has established a listing for individuals looking to meet others in their geographical area.
SBN's monthly discussion group - Meets the third Thursday of each month on Zoom.
Sunday morning meditation group - Meets every Sunday at 11 am US Eastern Time on Zoom.
Sunday evening Practice Circle - A long-time offering of the Secular Buddhist Association, meets the 2nd and 4th Sunday every month, 8:00 p.m. Central Time (9:00 p.m. Eastern).
SBN reading groups - SBN sponsors two reading groups. Book, article, video and podcast selections for both groups focus on topics related to secular Buddhism.
Exploring aging from a secular Buddhist perspective - Meets the second and last Monday of each month on Zoom.
Secular Dharma and Political Activism - Meets the first Friday of every month on Zoom.
Secular Buddhist Zen Pub - Meets every Saturday, 11 am US Eastern Time on Zoom.
SBN online course on Exploring a secular dharma - Learn about the basic ideas and concepts of secular Buddhism through a free online course.
Upcoming Events, Workshops, and Retreats
SBN's Calendar of Meetings and Courses - A calendar of SBN sponsored discussion and meditation groups, as well as SBN's courses on secular Buddhism.
Upcoming courses and retreats - Click here for a listing of upcoming courses, programs, and retreats of interest for secular Buddhists and socially engaged Buddhists.
International Women’s Day Retreat (Online, March 6 to March 9)
- International Women’s Day has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues still impacting women’s advancement. Linda Modaro, Nelly Kaufer, and Nhi Yến Đỗ Trần lead a retreat dedicated to honoring women, a retreat which helps us imagine a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. Buddhism has not been exempt from this bias. Issues that impact women in Buddhism have been around for over 2000 years, limiting women’s advancement.
Nhi Yến Đỗ Trần is a meditator, teacher, and author who brings her research of the Buddhist suttas to life, showing patriarchal translations were a later development. Linda Modaro and Nelly Kaufer are teachers of Reflective Meditation, which embeds feministic values in Buddhist practice. Reflective meditation has a code of ethics based on gentleness, receptivity, a relational approach, inclusivity, responsible and transparent use of power, accountable collaboration, and respectful feedback.
This retreat can error-correct some of the patriarchal views and assumptions that underlie Buddhism. To register for the retreat, click here.
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